Gold For TotalEnergies As SPE Holds 45th Nigeria Annual International Conference Exhibition
TotalEnergies was conferred with the Gold award for Sponsors as the Society of Petroleum Engineers Nigeria Council (SPENC) opened its 45th Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE 2022) on Monday August 1, 2022 at the Eko Hotel, Lagos, with an assembly of subject experts, regulators and other delegates. The theme of the three-day conference was: Global Transition to Renewable and Sustainable Energy and the Future of Oil and Gas in Africa.
TotalEnergies staff made important contributions with technical paper presentations and excelled in other roles as officers of the SPENC. The Executive Director, Corporate Services, Mr Tunji Akinwunmi, who represented the Managing Director at the opening Ceremony was given Special recognition for his outstanding leadership and service as Council Chair for 2020-2021 while Messrs Gboyega Ajayi and Daniel Abia received outstanding leadership Awards at the Annual General Meeting of the SPENC.
In his Ministerial address to the opening ceremony, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Marlin Sylva noted that the theme of the conference was apt "coming at a time when the world was witnessing a turnaround in global energy latitude and clamour for transition to greener energy sources to reduce carbon emission."
However, he noted that while current forecast indicate that the cost of renewables is declining, the reliability and sustainability of renewable energy supplies has been challenged by the recent energy crisis in Europe and America awakening renewed interest in fossil fuel supplies. He also observed that indigenous firms have developed capacity to fill in the gap created by divestments in the industry and could take advantage of opportunities therefrom.
"It must however be admitted that the risk of limited international financing of oil and gas projects could jeopardize Africa's transition and road map to achieving net zero," Sylva noted, urging Africa to look inwards to harness its resources, while accelerating technological development to face the global energy transition onslaught. "We need to develop cross border infrastructure, expand the regional energy market to guarantee long term energy security."
"Africa has a key role to play in securing a greener world where clean natural gas is used to power our economies sustainably," the minister said maintaining that the future of Africa's oil and gas industry is still bright despite the global energy transition offtake.
In his remarks, the President of Society of Petroleum Engineers International, Kamel Ben-Naceur noted the need for increased energy investment in Africa, expressing delight with the indigenous firms, start-ups positioning themselves for sustainable energy development on the continent saying Africa should use the extra-ordinary potential in the fact that it has the youngest population to develop her resources.
TotalEnergies exhibition booth attracted VIP tours while young professionals and delegates thronged the booth for various activities including presentations on corporate social responsibilities, geosciences, careers, medical, contract & procurement and quizzes.